The Vampire Diaries

What you have got with "The Vampire Diaries" is an ever-expanding and rather intricate mythology. Expect season three to open with a further examination of some of these original vampires who became so important to the tale last year so that we might better learn who they are, where they come from, and what they're angling towards (and don't for a minute think that they're not angling towards something). Where exactly will season three head? That we don't know, but we're pretty sure that simply watching the season will reveal that.

Past Events

This is the final episode of "The Vampire Diaries for 2014. Now, less you should feel terribly worried, we would like to remind you that there aren't very many Thursdays left in 2014 and that one is Christmas Day. So, really, what we're saying is that outside of the holiday itself, there is only one Thursday during which you won't get a new "Vampire Diaries." The series will, of course, be back come the new year (just maybe not instantly on January 1st). As we understand things, tonight's fall finale is a Christmas episode as well.

"The Vampire Diaries" is starting its sixth season tonight. That makes us feel old. Not quite like an immortal who has been around for centuries old, but old nonetheless. We remember the first ever episode of the series, when everything was so new. Now, over the course of The CW series' first five seasons we have seen the show broaden and deepen its mythology and characters. We don't know where the sixth season is going to take us, but we do have our fingers crossed that wherever we go we'll get there in an interesting fashion (and that the place itself is none-too-shabby). It all gets started, again, tonight.

The popular CW series is about to start its sixth season, but before that, it's fifth season will arrive on DVD. In fact the arrival of the fifth season will occur today. We will say that a whole lot occurred this past year so it might be wise to catch up before you start watching season six.

Zombies may be all the rage today, but we remember just a few years back when everyone was in love with vampires. Do you remember that sparkly moment in time? But, we would like to posit this -- vampires never really go away, their popularity may ebb and flow, but they are always here, always amongst us. We think that may be one of the messages of "The Vampire Diaries," but we wouldn't posit it. Tonight, the already renewed "Diaries" ends its fifth season. Watch with the comfort of knowing that the undead will return.

Oh, but it has been a long, cold, dark month of January (and a fair portion of December as well), what without a new episode of "The Vampire Diaries" and all. Sure, you might think that dark bit would amuse vampires and draw them nigh, but it doesn't. Well, maybe it actually has, maybe the weeks of darkness simply had to slowly mount before the darkness with dark enough for the dark things to emerge. Yes, that was a whole lot of dark, but vampires like it that way. New episodes start tonight, get excited for their return.

Titling episodes is an art. Tonight's episode, the last new "Vampire Diaries" of 2013, is called "Fifty Shades of Grayson" and we love it. We just love it. Are they doing an S&M thing tonight? Are they doing a "Twilight Saga" fan fiction-based episode? We don't know. All we know is that tonight's episode is a reference to the "Fifty Shades" trilogy and even if the episode itself has nothing to do with said trilogy, we're curious to see it unfold. Plus, you know, as we said, it's the last new episode of the year.

Listen, we know that when we discussed the prom episode of "Vampire Diaries" we referenced "Buffy," but we simply have to do it again. Seriously. Do you not remember the season three finale of "Buffy?" Do you not remember all the stuff that went down with Angel and the Mayor and Faith and everyone else? Holy macaroni, was that a great episode. We sincerely hope that "The Vampire Diaries" can top it, and we really only make the connection between the two because of the networks in question and the word "Vampire" appearing in the title. To us, that makes it a fair comparison.

In our attempt to bring you up to speed on where "The Vampire Diaries" story currently stands we read a brief synopsis of the show (just to refresh our memory). Here, then, is our summation of the summary -- there are vampires on "The Vampire Diaries," they have histories which they may not remember, and there are always--always--evil doings afoot. People are not whom they seem to be, but nor, necessarily, are they someone else. Plus, you can brood even when you're not a teenager. There now, all ready for the new season?

Alaric attempts to figure out the meaning behind his discovery; Elana and Rebekah engage in a power struggle, until Rebekah reveals some of her family's secrets; Damon makes a breakthrough with Stefan, and they're both surprised by an unlikely ally.

On the first day of senior year, Elena, Caroline, Bonnie and Matt are still reeling from recent events, while Tyler seems to be enjoying everything too much; Everyone is shocked by the arrival of a new student in Alaric's history class.

The description of this episode talks about a 'harsh reality' and 'simpler times' and 'a decision that will change everything' and a 'secret deal.' Now, if we had to string all those notions together and extrapolate what will happen tonight, it seems obvious that Elena is going to side with the Dark Lord of the Sith and call Vader to Earth in order to make a deal that splits the galaxies between the two. If you're worried about what the tightening grip will do to the various systems, don't, fear of this battle station will keep them in line. That's got to be what's going to happen, right? Right?

The last new episode of "The Vampire Diaries" aired the second Thursday in November (that's two Thursdays before Thanksgiving!). But, after a nice semi-long hiatus (six weeks is a decent amount of vacation, no?), the show is back with a new slew of fresh episodes. Now, there's always a worry with a series (particularly a vampire-based one) that they're going to drag the whole thing on way too long and suck the life out of it all. That really hasn't happened yet here. Insert vampire joke about you being happy you tuned in here.

We are very sorry about this, but we have to do it... Do you not find it disconcerting that a band called 'My Morning Jacket' is going to be on a show which so very importantly revolves around the nighttime? Is that not a little incongruous? Would it not be better if the band were My Full Moon Jacket or My Midnight Jacket or My Bloodsucking Jacket? Okay, we are exceedingly happy to see the band on the show, we love the band, we love their music, we just think that they really ought to be changing their name for this appearance.

Lest you worry that this show is dying tonight with the season finale, might we remind you that the show is called "The Vampire Diaries" and therefore all about the undead. The show therefore, quite naturally, is undead too. "The Vampire Diaries" has already been renewed for a third season. That doesn't mean that tonight's episode won't be big and that things can't change dramatically, they most certainly can, but no matter what happens the show will be returning in the fall."

We are not going to recap what happened on last season's "The Vampire Diaries" here. We don't want you to think that too much happened for us to recount and that it's not worth your watching this season, but it would take more space than we have. We will tell you that Katherine Pierce returned at the end of the season and you ought to expect some villainy from her in season two. Plus, the series will undoubtedly still have all the teen heartthrob soap opera-y antics The CW specializes in. How can you go wrong?

We've always fancied ourselves more on Team Bella than Team Elena. No, that's not true, is it? Ever since we met those folks on "The Vampire Diaries" there's only been one teen heartthrob vampire franchise for us, and it is "The Vampire Diaries." Sadly, their first season is coming to a close, but our love for the show is as immortal as the cold, dead characters at its center. We look forward to their return this fall and know - just know - that if they gave us a chance they could love us... forever.

You know everything is good in the world when shows you like that have been off-air for a while miraculously return, and that, my friends, is happening tonight. Or, it is happening tonight if you like "The Vampire Diaries" because the show is in fact returning with a new episode. Said new episode will have Melinda Clarke from "The O.C." on it... and vampires, the series definitely promises to have vampires, it's kind of what it's all about. So, grab a pint of the red stuff and head for the couch, the "Diaries" return tonight!

The CW goes after that "Twilight"/"True Blood" audience with the series premiere of "The Vampire Diaries."

We'll let The CW tell you what it's about:

"Four months after a tragic car accident killed their parents, 17-year-old Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev, "DeGrassi: The Next Generation") and her 15-year-old brother, Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen, "Everwood"), are still adjusting to their new reality. Elena finds comfort with her best friend Bonnie (Katerina Graham, "17 Again"), frenemy Caroline (Candice Accola, "Juno"), and former boyfriend Matt (Zach Roerig, "Friday Night Lights"), but Jeremy is trying to figure out why Matt's sister, Vicki (Kayla Ewell, "The Bold and The Beautiful"), is suddenly rejecting him and hanging out with his rival, Tyler (Michael Trevino, "Cane"). As the school year begins, Elena and her friends are fascinated by a handsome and mysterious new student, Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley, "Fallen"). Stefan and Elena are immediately drawn to one another, but Elena doesn't realize that Stefan is hiding a dark, deadly secret – the fact that he's a vampire. At a nighttime bonfire party, Elena and Stefan are getting to know each other when chaos erupts after Vicki is attacked and left bleeding from a savage bite to the neck. Fearing that he knows who is responsible for the attack, Stefan finds that his older brother, Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder, "Lost"), has returned to town. Now these two vampire brothers – one good, one evil – are at war for Elena's soul and for the souls of her friends, family and all the residents of Mystic Falls, Virginia. Sara Canning also stars as Aunt Jenna. Marcos Siega directed the pilot written by executive producers Kevin Williamson & Julie Plec."